‘App store’ fight ends – Apple drops trademark lawsuit against Amazon

In the same week that Apple celebrates the fifth anniversary of its App Store, the company has settled a long-running dispute with Amazon regarding alleged trademark infringement and false advertising over the use of the term ‘app store’. The case was set to go to trial next month.

A US district judge in California dismissed the case at both companies’ request on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Apple said it had decided not to file suit over Amazon’s use of the term, causing Amazon to drop a countersuit.

The dispute kicked off back in 2011 when the e-commerce giant launched its ‘Amazon Appstore for Android’. Apple cried foul, claiming it had the sole rights to use the term for its own App Store, which launched five years ago this week.

The Cupertino company fought to prevent Amazon from using the term, and also requested compensation for unspecified damages.

During a bit of back-and-forth in the first half of 2011, Amazon strongly rejected the idea that the name of its app store infringed on the trademark of Apple’s store. The Seattle-based company claimed “app store” to be a generic term and therefore it didn’t need to seek permission from Apple to use it as the phrase was “unprotectable”.

The dispute even reached a stage where Amazon cited the work of a leading group of US linguists in an attempt to win the dispute.

Commenting on the case on Tuesday, Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said, “We no longer see a need to pursue our case. With more than 900,000 apps and 50 billion downloads, customers know where they can purchase their favorite apps.”

Amazon lawyer Martin Glick also commented, saying, “This was a decision by Apple to unilaterally abandon the case, and leave Amazon free to use ‘appstore’”.

Apple boss Tim Cook said last year that he’d “highly prefer to settle than to battle” when it came to lawsuits concerning his company. He added, “I’ve always hated litigation and I continue to hate it.” After reviewing this case, it’s possible he felt it was too petty to pursue, and with no end in sight, decided it was wiser to back down.

His predecessor, Steve Jobs, was known for his more combative approach, famously saying he was prepared to “go thermonuclear” when it came to some legal disputes with rival companies.

There’s so much choice when shopping for a new tablet that it can be hard to pick the right one. From iPads to Android, these are our picks for the best tablets you can buy right now whatever your budget.

Amazon Prime brings more perks than just free two-day shipping. Subscribers get access to a huge library of TV shows to stream at no extra cost. Here are our favorite TV shows currently available on Amazon Prime.

Looking for a new show to binge? Lucky for you, we've curated a list of the best shows on Netflix, whether you're a fan of outlandish anime, dramatic period pieces, or shows that leave you questioning what lies beyond.

Save yourself from hours wasted scrolling through Netflix's massive library by checking out our picks for the streamer's best movies available right now, whether you're into explosive action, subdued humor, or anything in between.

Have too many apps piled up on your iPhone? With all the games, apps, and bloatware out there, it is easy to run out of room on your phone. Here's how to delete apps on an iPhone, so you can free up some space for something new.

To reach its rumored launch timeline of later this year for its low-cost notebook, Apple is expected to begin production of its updated MacBook Air soon. The sub-$1,000 laptop could launch as early as September or October.

In this virtual assistant comparison, we examine how they're becoming an important part of our lives. So how do Cortana, Google Assistant, and Siri stack up against one another when it comes to features and voice recognition?

Marco Polo has been dubbed the "video walkie-talkie," but how does the video messaging app stack up against competitors like Snapchat and Instagram? From unique filters to personalized video messages, we explore the Marco Polo app.

At its September event last year, Apple unveiled the AirPower -- its new wireless charging mat that will allow you to charge multiple devices at one time. It has not yer been released. Here's everything we know about the device so far.

The new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the company's latest ultra-premium smartphone. The device boasts top-tier specs, an excellent design, and more. But can it take out the Apple iPhone X, Apple's own ultra-premium device?

Are you wondering how to record calls on your iPhone? It isn't as easy as you might think, but we'll walk you through the process of doing so with Google Voice, and identify several other apps and external voice recorders that can help.

Google is tracking your location -- even when you tell it not to. According to an investigation by the Associated Press, Google services on both Android and iPhones store location data, regardless of whether privacy settings claim…

There's nothing worse than getting a new phone and realizing you don't have any of your old contacts listed. Luckily, it's an easy problem to solve. Here's how to transfer your contact list to your new device.